Local high school musicians earn medals at Musicfest 'Nationals'

NEWS RELEASE
UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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Two Guelph high schools, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute and Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute, performed this past week at the Musicfest Canada National Music Competition in Niagara Falls.

All three Guelph public high schools qualified for Nationals earlier this year, however JF Ross chose to defer their invitation to Nationals until 2024.

Musicfest Canada “The Nationals” brings thousands of students and educators from across the country together, over a one-week period, to celebrate excellence in musical performance.

This year's festival was attended by almost 8,000 young musicians representing more than 200 schools from across the country, making it the largest educational music convention in North America.

Not only does Musicfest Canada showcase the talent and knowledge of esteemed clinicians and adjudicators from across North America, it also showcases Canada’s own landscape by hosting the festival in a different metropolitan city each year.

Centennial CVI had four groups participating in Nationals this year.

The CCVI spARTanS Symphonic Ensemble and CCVI sARTanS Stage Band were both awarded National Bronze Medals, and the CCVI spARTanS Concert Ensemble and CCVI spARTanS Acoustic Guitar Ensemble were both awarded the National Gold Medal.

This is the first time that Centennial has won the National Gold Medal which is the highest award a school music group can win in Canada. This gives Centennial a total of seven National Medals in the past six years.

GCVI had five groups participating in Nationals this year.

The GCVI Chamber String Ensemble and GCVI Orchestra were both awarded National Silver Medals for their performances.

The GCVI Jr. Symphonic Band, GCVI Sr Symphonic Band, and the GCVI Gael Force Stage Band were all awarded the National Gold Medal for their performances.

This is the third year in a row that the GCVI Sr Symphonic Band has won the National Gold Medal, and the first time for the GCVI Jr. Symphonic Band and GCVI Gael Force Stage Band.

GCVI was now won 37 Musicfest Canada National Medals in the past 12 years including 10 National Gold Medals.

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